Why I Don’t Remove My Body Hair (Anymore)

When I was in the third grade, I asked this kid Tim to the school dance. Well, I asked my friend to ask him for me, which was the elementary school equivalent of messaging him on OKCupid (i.e. definitely silly but it protects your feelings somewhat, right?). He said no. Nay, he said “hell no.” Why, you ask? Why would somebody not have totally fallen head over heels in love with this face? No, it wasn’t because I already wore weird high-waisted shorts with patterned tights; it was because I had fuzzy arms and legs.

So I fixed it! Because for some reason, it had somehow already been engrained in my system that if somebody didn’t like something about me, change was the only option.

Keep in mind, I was in the third grade. At age 9, children often aren’t really allowed to have scissors on their own, let alone use razors to reduce the extremely little hair they have already to nil. But shave, I did. My arms and my legs, every day until I was 13, at which point I added my underarms. Sure, it was annoying to always take so much time in the shower, but that’s “what women do,” so it made sense to me. It was written in the books I read about puberty and everyone I knew did it, which were good enough reasons for me.

At 14, I self-Brazilian’d – using tweezers. I was too afraid to shave that area, so I literally plucked every single hair until I was as hairless as I had been five years before (and it hurt — I would seriously rather get scarification once more that ever fucking pluck that area again). I did it because several of my friends told me that that’s what you’re “supposed” to do as you get older. Otherwise, it was commonly known that boys would never want to hook up with you and girls would make fun of you.

It’s strange — not to mention confusing — how, as you’re a little girl trying so hard to become a woman, it’s expected that you’ll make yourself look like a child again in order to do “adult” things.

Good for you. I’m pretty relaxed about my legs (I wear jeans pretty much every day anyway), but I shave my armpits and “maintain” a relatively bare below the belt area ( I would never shave there though because of the irritation-I have a trimmer, and dear god, it’s the best thing every) simply because the regrowth annoys me and I’m too impatient to wait for my personal privet hedge to fill out. Aesthetically, I personally also prefer an all or nothing look. Probably I’ll let it grow in again in a few years, but so what? It’s my privet and I can do what I like with it. As long as you’ve found a routine that works for you everyone else should keep their opinions to themselves.

Also, I find the guys who claim to be revolted by a full muff pretty unbelievable- do they really expect us to believe that if Kate Upton, for example, was standing there naked and willing with a little personal shrubbery or some armpit fuzz they’d turn her down? I call BS on that.

http://samanthaescobar.com Samantha Escobar

Thanks! I’ve never really tried a trimmer besides scissors around there; the sound of an electric thing of any kind would freak me out. Buuuut maybe I should try it if you say it’s the best thing ever…I think it might make it significantly easier, haha.

Guh, I know @ that last part. If somebody wants to bang me or anybody else and at the last second, that made them think twice, I would be pretty appalled. And if Kate Upton was standing in front of anybody, regardless of anything short of not being into it for sexual orientation reasons (and even then…), I’m pretty sure she could make their flag fly.

Jenniwren

Oooh trimmers are marvelous! I like that they give you options- the trimmer attachment is great if you just want to tidy up and keep things at a reasonable length but the shaver gives you a pretty close cut that is nice and easy to keep up (twice a week works fine for me). For some reason I just don’t get ingrown hairs with an electric shaver like I do with a disposable razor- I don’t know why because they do much the same thing! They do pull sometimes, but that’s usually because I’m not concentrating on keeping the skin taut or holding it at the wrong angle. This my be TMI but I am very enthusiastic about shavers! Mine cost about $20 from Target- the blades will eventually wear out and if you consider the cost of waxing it’s a great investment!

And yep, those guys always seem to be trying a little too hard, am I right? It’s like when guys claim they’re a “leg man” or a “boob man”- at the end of the day, most men I know are a “I’ll take what I’m given man.”

BeccaTheCyborg

I don’t get how removing fluff makes you look like a child. I wasn’t aware children had adult genitals and breasts.

And I say this as someone with some very cultivated fuzz.

http://samanthaescobar.com Samantha Escobar

I had a feeling someone might bring this up. It definitely makes sense that a person could still tell another person is an adult even without pubic hair, but I think in part because my history which I mentioned and in part because it’s so frequently a device used in porn to make actresses look younger, it still really weirds me out.

The term “cultivated fuzz” is pretty fantastic.

BeccaTheCyborg

It originally was a porn thing because you could, uh, see more of the parts. It was supposed to be nakeder (totally a word now), more than younger. Then it became ubiquitous, and I don’t think I’ve seen recent mainstream porn with any hair, to my recollection, aside from a tiny little Dorito-shaped landing strip. Also, it totally makes sense with your history. AND, more importantly, it doesn’t matter if I think so, because your boundaries are yours, and others don’t get to negotiate them. Ahem.

Although I am 100% with you on the creepiness of porn that’s trying to make the actress out to be (and my skin crawls at this phrase) “barely legal”. And it’s messed up as hell that bodies that aren’t drastically altered are considered nichey fetish stuff.

Also, I call a lot of bullshit on anyone who thinks it’s more hygienic or that a non-shaved vulva smells bad. 1. I can’t imagine the dudes who say the former are going for the full wax themselves, so they’re saying they’re filthy and gross. and 2. Hair exists to protect it.

So, apparently I have a lot of feelings about this too. I guess that one line just kind of made me nitpicky. Also, I love the way my pitfluff (which is totally carefully cultivated. I moisturize it. It seems to make it happier.) sorts out assholes ahead of time for me too.

Cee

Tweezers?! Down thurr?! Good god!

I don’t get men that say shit like “I only sleep with girls who shave all their vaginas..sooooo” Id respond “Well gee, I only sleep with dudes with big dicks so lets both make exceptions, fuck you very much!”

Sarah

Awesome article! I do think it says a lot about a partner if they’re cool with body hair (or menstruation, or any other natural part/function of your body).

A couple years ago I stopped shaving my underarms due to irritation and wanting to be as ballsy as punk rock and European ladies. After keeping them under wraps for about a week, I shoved a hairy armpit in the husband’s face. Though I’d have kept them either way, it was a huge relief that he found em sexy. I definitely get mixed reactions on the furry underarms, but it’s nice not to give a shit about it. I just wish I had this much confidence to not care in my adolescence.

On the other hand, I’ve always been pretty insane about removing everything below my waist because personally, I like the way it feels. And I like the sensation of waxing (maybe I am a sadomasochist, I don’t know). My husband’s been begging me to let the lady parts fill in, but I still have a hard time with it.

Merp

It took me a long time to drop my ingrained hair phobia – and it kind of happened one body part at a time during college. First I stopped caring about my eyebrows. Then my toes and upper lip, then the pubic hair, and then I stopped shaving my legs completely, and then the armpits. I found that it was kind of awesome not wanting to poke, prod and pluck (and accidentally cut, because I never was very much good at it) my body into “submission” all the time. Plus, my partner thinks the hair is sexy, which is an added bonus.

Like pretty much all things having to do with the body, I think everyone should do what works for them without any outside pressure and alternately not bother anyone else about their own personal routine!

Anyways, thanks for this article. It’s nice to know there are other hairy girls like myself out there.

Cassie

My boyfriend prefers me bare, but it’s not because he’s especially attracted to prepubescence, nor does he think it’s more hygienic. It’s because he adores eating me out, and frankly, the hair gets in the way. So it’s not always a selfish reason. I’m very inclined to support his cause.

j.cruel

I will never understand this argument. My husband loves going down me and back in my single days I enjoyed going down on girls–I’ve never had a problem with this. You spread a ladies lips when you’re licking her business. I know they call it muff diving but really you probably shouldn’t just be mashing your open mouth on anybody’s junk–that doesn’t sound like it would feel very good. Women kiss men with beards all the time without sucking down their facial hair. It’s not that complicated.

Rose

If someone is spending their time “down there” licking your pubic hair, they might need a bit of direction.

Ziggy

OK, nobody is going to force you shave your body hair. But its just more physically attractive if you do. Statistically, more men find attractive. So if you are attempting to attract a man it can only add to their desire of you. But no one is forcing you to do anything…

j.cruel

Well, I’m only interested in attracting men who aren’t slaves to social conditioning. So there’s that. There’s nothing less attractive than a person who is incapable of discerning arbitrary double standards.

Deuces

I actually shaved regularly down there since my teens, and when I met my fiance he shocked me by telling me he prefers hair down there. “I like to know I’m with a woman” was what he always said. I’d grow it out a bit, and when I’d go to shave, he said to let it grow a bit more. It was actually really hard to get used to! I’d been so “trained” as you are Ziggy. As a person with very sensitive skin, It’s been two and a half years now, and I simply “womanscape” every so often to keep it at a manageable level and am so glad not to deal with the painful bumps, irritation, and itching from it growing back. I don’t really grow hair on my legs but I do Nair my underarms, but he doesn’t really worry too much about it when they get fuzzy lol. I’m a lucky woman :)

Now that I think about it…no man I’ve ever dated was super big on the naked vag thing, but I also made it a point not to date men who watch porn, so that may have something to do with it. They’d never been trained to dislike it lol.

Carson

No, I dont think any guy is revolted by pubic hair. But I do think that more men would find it more attractive if you do shave. You don’t have to, but I really don’t see any reason why not, unless your busy or in a rush or something.

alexandra

Did you read the story? She gives a few pretty good reasons why not.

natro

I personally prefer women to shave down there just to make it easier for oral s#&^…and it looks extremely beautiful and as well as less unpleasant odor..

Angela

Psoriasis makes shaving a completely different experience for me, and I imagine for the OP as well. If I choose to shave, I know that I will be further irritating and injuring my already damaged skin and actually encouraging further damage (it’s called Koebner phenomenon, folks, and it totally sucks). Aside from that, my psoriasis dictates that the moment I get done, I must immediately slather myself in lotion or I risk razor burn/bumps no matter how sharp and fresh the razor I use.

So, all things considered, I often opt not to shave. I am fortunate enough to be very fair haired/skinned, so I’m blessed with remarkably little body hair to begin with, but even if I weren’t I still don’t think aesthetics are worth compromising my skin when I’m having a flare up. And let me tell you, if you think it itches as the hair grows back in down there to begin with, add psoriasis to the mix and you might as well be wearing underwear made of a wool and fire ant blend.

For the record: I am in a relationship with a man who fortunately understands and does not care whether I’m smooth or fuzzy at any given time. His main concern is that I am comfortable and happy, and that’s all anyone can ask for.

alexandra

Who is that girl in the hat and bathing suit? HOT.

Cate

I really, really, really hope you are joking because that is Sue Lyon playing one Dolores ‘Lolita’ Haze in the 1962 adaptation of the book. I mean, she was 14 when that movie was being filmed, but still, it may not be the best sentiment to broadcast everywhere, considering the fact that Humbert Humbert is not the most sympathetic character.

Kenny

I don’t get it. How does shaving body hair even come up on a date; and since when does anyone have to negotiate with date for intimacy? Exactly what kind of a date were you looking for? If you like limiting yourself to controlling men, then you’re really missing out.

MJ

I haven’t shaved a darn thang in going on 3 years! I’m young and dress it, so sometimes I see people giving my tank-be-topped self sort of an, ahem, “hairy eyeball” and wonder, “what is their deal?” Then I recall: women who have armpit hair are by necessity the most fascinating freaks. For me, it’s really a case of damned if you do (horrible red spots and scratchy stubble) and damned if you don’t (people telling you that of course it doesn’t matter, but they just “prefer” a girl with no hair “down there” for “hygiene.”) I love the fact that I don’t scrape my skin off every morning before applying carcinogenic deodorant straight into my bloodstream, I love that my legs are soft and downy and I never cut my ankles open with a slippery razor, and I love love love having pubic hair. And men can certainly get a little hair in their mouth during oraltimes if women can put AN ENTIRE PENIS in theirs.

Amy

It kind of annoys me that this discussion is always framed around heterosexual relationships and nary a mention is made of women’s demands/preferences for other women. Would it make a difference? I’ve always thought men acquiesce to shaving/waxing certain body parts in order to better appeal to future lovers so this isn’t necessarily a “female issue.”

Personally, I feel more comfortable to be -mostly- bare and if I were to perform oral sex on a woman, I would prefer her to be mostly bare as well. Not demand, just prefer.

My boyfriend, on the other hand, has stated that he likes variety, which I’ve taken to mean that he does not really give a shit because he just flat out loves vagina. On a semi-related note, he shaves his armpits.

LillyRowan

I really think shaving ‘down there’, is kind of creepy. Little girls do not have hair on their private parts, women do. Frankly, I think that if a man wants a woman with shaved pubic hair, that it is perverse. Actually, I am not a fan of men manscapping either. Give me a hairy chest and back any day of the week. I want a man who looks like a man, not a nine year old.

BeccaTheCyborg

I think you missed a lot of the talks about how puberty actually changes the body.

meteor_echo

Erm… NOPE. I am definitely an adult – I have prominent hips and breasts and ass. I don’t look like a little girl despite having no hair “down there”. Reasoning fail on your part.

aguyinnyc

I am a guy who prefers to have almost my entire lower area (back/front) waxed. I still keep a small “landing strip”, if you will, for aesthetic reasons. The reasons for my preferring this are twofold: 1) I feel cleaner and by association more comfortable and sexually uninhibited; and, 2) It feels awesome.

Do I prefer my partners to be the same? Yes. It is out of some misguided misogynistic desire to control or delegitimize women? No.

MR

A woman’s legs feel nicer shaved.

MR

PS. Can I ask you the country? :)

MR

Whoops, bad phonetics. What do you expect from a guy? Kind of dumb to shave there if you ask me.

I shave my legs and underarms somewhat obsessively, partly because I like the way it feels, partly because, being ethnically Serbian, I have very, very fair skin and very, very dark, coarse hair and it just becomes frightening and mannish. I also pluck my eyebrows, my moustache, and my chin hairs. HOWEVER, I have recently stopped doing very much more than trimming on my ‘privet hedge’ (Jenniwren, that is an amazing term) and it is awfully freeing, I guess. It’s extremely unusual to see more than a landing strip in my line of work, but most customers don’t seem to mind, in fact, the ones who do have opinions on it at all seem to mostly find it attractive. I wish there wasn’t such an obsession with pube-destruction in our culture. If it’s something you want to do, great, but it shouldn’t be this expected thing. I would liken it to the way douching with Lysol was a normal thing in the early part of the twentieth century, but I’m not sure it’s quite that bad.

I sometimes wonder if I could ever have the balls to go full Frida Kahlo and grow EVERYTHING out, even my moustache and monobrow, but so far I have not been able to summon the courage.

SF

I don’t shave down there. I hate it. I hate how it looks, how it feels within a day, how it can start itching. Screw that. If a guy doesn’t want to sleep with me, because I have hair down there, then be it. I really don’t care. It is a personal choice and I choose no.

DebMoore

Right! Plus I think it is not very sexy to be scratching my twat all day long. Kind of defeats the purpose.

http://samanthaescobar.com Samantha Escobar

Oh god, the itching. If I don’t give into it, I end up crossing and uncrossing my legs so many times, I look like I’m trying not to piss myself. If I do give into it, I end up causing myself to get obnoxious razor burn which looks horrible and feels worse. I see no point to going through that when there’s not even a smooth finish possible!

Frank

What a neurotic article. Women naturally see everyday, mundane things as Dynasty-level, epic matters involving existential crises for society, millennia long efforts by men to suppress women, and amateur attempts at tortuous Freudian analysis. In reality you have a lot of pent up emotion that you’ve tied to shaving because you feel self-conscious about your body and you don’t like the idea of being harshly judged, even though your beauty and attractiveness is instinctively important to you as a woman so you can’t just say “**** it.” So you’re a little torn on matter, great.

SF

Oh. Frank..you know so much. Thank you for the in-depth analysis on women’s hate for a scratchy, prepuberty twat. XOXO

3. Please don’t delete this post. It is immensely amusing that, minus the first two sentences, your assessment of the main point of this article is spot-on. Yes, we women are a little torn [up] on the [the] matter. Yes, it is great that we’re discussing now, since it’s ridiculous that more people haven’t talked about it.
What’s even better is your apparent inability to understand the problem within what you’ve just described.

Have fun in Douchequerque–
V

Astoria

She’s not comparing it to the war in Syria. Our bodies are always going to matter to women; we live in them every day. If you don’t think women’s bodies are political, you haven’t been paying close attention in history class. And you don’t think sexual attraction has psychological dimensions? Your desire to reduce the complexities of everyday human matters and strip out all the history and meaning behind them doesn’t magically make it so.

Amy

OK Frank, well how about you spend 20 years getting all the hair on your body ripped out by searing hot wax every month (which would add up to between $20,000 – $50,000 in cost) because society tells you it’s a requirement of being part of your gender and being clean or sexy? And then you can have a whinge about this article.

And since you think this isn’t a huge issue I assume you tell all the women in your life that you like them naturally hairy?

kylightening

kyligtening says, i like it hairy keeps the pleasure of finding the treasure for another minute or so. hell i want a woman not a little girl! let her do as she pleases

Michael

I think women shaving their pubes and armpits is disgusting. I would never go near a shaved vagina. The feel of them is awful with the prickly stubble and red bumps from shaving irritation. A full pubic bush is so sexy and a major turn on for a lot of guys. My ideal woman has unshaven pubes and pits. I don’t even mind leg hair on women. It makes them sexy and different from the pin up look we have grown so accustomed to. Hairy girls are the best.

John

You folks need a history lesson when you say shaving bare started with porn in these modern times,,, Research ancient Egypt for a start, 4000 years ago..